Category Archives: Writers helping writers

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers helping writers

Quitter’s Day

Leave a comment
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

At the end of each year, many people worldwide make resolutions. Some writers make a few, while others have a long list.

It varies on how many are successful or quit. I read the other day that there is a thing called Quitter Day, and it falls on the second Friday of January. It is when people have quit their resolutions. I admit I had a small chuckle at that.

But my mind went to my writing. Are there writers that have resolutions when it comes to their writing?

Do they make a long list or a short one? One resolution that always makes my list is to write more.

Over the years, the list has included a variety of goals that have included writing more, enrolling in a writing course, and attending my writer’s group to promote my written works.

I have been successful with a few in the years that have gone by.

Writing gives me joy in a way that is hard to express to someone who does not write. Writers understand, even if they can’t adequately describe it to anyone, including me. That is one reason it is on my list.

Whether you make resolutions or not for life or your writing, I wish you the best of 2025. May it be full of love, joy, and laughter.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers helping writers

Do you hear from your readers?

Leave a comment
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Do you ever hear back from people who read your books? It could be in a review, purchasing more than one of your books, or perhaps they tell you whether they like it.

One of my favorite reviews came from a grandfather who told me about his grandson who had read the first volume of my Jasper, Amazon parrot series. He told me his grandson put down his electronic device and started to read. When he finished the first volume, he asked his grandfather where volume two was. It makes me happy.

One will not always get five-star reviews, and you might even get a one or two-star review. It happens. We need to evaluate how to keep going.

Writing for our target audience, whoever they are, must be kept at the forefront of our minds when writing our books. It is so easy to veer left or right during the writing.

Writing for children is hard, or so I have been told. You have to write in a way that is not over their heads or below their intelligence. Adults will read a book, and if they are not a fan of the book, they will still read a bit more to see if they can salvage it to finish the book. A child doesn’t give that kind of commitment. If they don’t like your book by the first few pages, they will look for another one. Parents pay attention to what their kids like.

I had a mother who wrote what her son told her about the first volume of my Jasper series.

My kid: it made me feel happy, calm, and emotional in some parts. 📗🦜🦜

 I enjoy reading this book to my kid.

That made my day, and it still does.

Kids are enjoying what I write. And I try to make sure I always write for the target audience. Insulting your readings by not doing so does no one any favors.

Here is to the next book and hopefully more happy readers.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers helping writers

Where do you get your ideas from for your writing?

Leave a comment
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Do you get ideas for your stories or novels at the wrong time? And what do you do about it, if anything?

One of my favorite places to get ideas at the wrong time is at night when I am about to go to sleep, tossing and turning, and so on. Ideas will pop in, and I do the same thing each time because it works so well. I say to myself, I will remember this tomorrow, for I don’t need to write it down. Because that always works. Ugh. I am not sure why I can’t put a notepad near me. Well, I have, but did I put anything in? No. Instead, I tell myself that I will remember that.

Another place where ideas come to me is in the car. That reminds me. I need to put a notepad in the car. I rarely keep my cell phone out unless I am charging it. I don’t call or text when I am driving. It can wait.

Another place that is just peachy when I come up with ideas is the shower. Because nothing says story ideas like a shower, am I right? I won’t bring up the idea that came to me on how to remember the story idea. Just too stupid. But this is where I get a mega amount of story ideas.

The point is ideas will come at you from all directions, any time of the day, and at any eventful thing you are doing. It doesn’t care if the doctor is about to come into the examination room. It doesn’t care if it is finally your turn at the DMV or any place where you have time to wait. It is not a concern if you are doing anything else. Ideas will pop in at will and demand you pay attention to them.

I am getting better at writing these down or noting them for later. Still, for all I know, I may have had the idea for a NY best-selling book, but I didn’t, for whatever reason, write it down.